Helicopter



Nov. 1o, 1925.

HEpIcoPTER Filed Nov. 6, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS ATTORNEY.

Nov. 10, l925 G. EXEL HELICogTER Filed Nov. 6, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /lv Y :Je Evi/gwn' A TTOHNE Y Patented Nov. i 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE EXEL, F CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY.

HELICOIE'TER.vr

Application med November e, 1924. serial Ne. 748,638.

To all whom it may concern: T

Be it known that I, Gnonon EXEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifton, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Helicopters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lieavier-than-airmachinesof the helicopter class. My principal objectvhas been to create a helicopter that would be practically useful for flight and that would not only be reliably capable of lifting itself and the'load represented at least by the weight of the operator but of being directed in any chosen course. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in side elevation and partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan;

Fig. 3 a vertical sectional View of the main parts of the machine, on a larger scale; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are an elevation and a sectional view of the means for controlling the planes w.

In my machine the carrier for the operator or other load is swivelled 13opreferably depends ufrom-that structure of the machine which includes the rotary aerofoils and the motor.l There are two aerofoils rotating on the same vertical axis, one acting principally to lift and the other functioning principally in sustentation (though each contributes more or less to the others prin-v cipal function), wherefore the former is appreciably smaller than the latter in both diameter and area and rotates at appreciably greater speed. These two aerofoils are respectively acted upon by the active and reactive elementspof a rotary motor, as by the pistons acting on the larger aerofoil and the motor cylinder'and crank-case structure acting on the smaller aerofoil.A The smaller aerofoil may simulate the propeller nowl used in iying machines of the aeroplane type; the larger aerofoil includes aerofoil or acting portions each ofeonsiderable spread and carried at a distance from the axis of 1 through of the air acted upon by the smaller aerofoil. Now I have found in experimenting with a machine containing the elementsand constructed substantially as so fai' described that good lifting power could best be obtained if, instead of leaving the motor to expend its energy in a more or less futile racing of that element thereof which meets with the lesser resistance (i. e., the one which drives the smaller aerofoil) and a consequently too sluggish movement of the other motor element, the force acting upon the former element were applied in boosting or accelerating the Aspeed of the latter element. I therefore introduced between the two main rotary structures of the machine gearing (as planetary gearing) including an intermediate gear member, of which the intermediate or traveling (as the planet) gear member obtained a bearing, that is to say, a purchase on a rotary air-resisted medium independent of the carrier,^as a third aerofoil. This resulted in a speeding-up of the larger aerofoil, that motor element which acted on the smaller aerofoil now assisting the other motor element in impelling the larger aerofoil. In view of the foregoing the principal element of novelty in my machine will be apparent. By resort to such gearing and a third aerofoil or other such air-resisted rotary member as I have indicated to afford a purchase for the principal acting member of such gearing I have been able as a practical demonstration has shown to produce a helicopter with ample lifting power.

-The carriage or car of the helicopter is indicated at a; it is shown of skeleton construction, but the details thereof are not material. Formed as a part of or attached to it are four struts b which converge upwardly and are secured at their upper ends to a head c in the form of a sleeve.

- The motor as shown is of the internalcombustion type, preferably including a number of cylinders and pistons and a single crank-shaft. The casingstructure forming the cylinders and crank-case isindicated' at d, and at e is the crank-shaft to the crank of which itvwill be understood the connecting rods, as f, of the different pistons are connected. The crank-shaft is journaled coaxially with and 4in the structure d. (in whichthe cylinders are arranged radially and equally spaced from each other around va common axis), g being ball-bearings for the shaft arranged at the 'top and bottom of said structure. The shaft e protrudes downwardly from the structure d, and alined with it structure d has an upward extension or stub-shaft It. On; the lower end of the shaft e is a collar or equivalent enlargement c. The sleeve c is journaled on theshaft and supported by the collar e', so that the carriage a-Z) is swivelled with respect to all that structure which includes' the motor and the aerofoils.

lVhat may be termed the skeleton hub of the larger aerofoil is constructed as follows: e' and j designate an upper and a lower spider arranged in parallel planes and coaxially, the ends of their several arms lbeing rigidly connected by`uprights It', and these may extend if desired below the spider j and be suitably braced, as at l. The central disk-like part j of the spider j is fixed on the lower protruding end of the shaft e, but the corresponding part z" of the spider i has a bearing (as a ball-bearing if) on the stubshaft L. Thus the hub structure isiixed to rotate with shaft e but is rotatable independently of stub-shaft 7L Vwhich simply coacts with shaft e to maintain the hub in coaxial relation t-o the mot-or. (m is simply an annular oil-guard secured to the uprights around the motor). The aerofoil of which the mentioned hub forms a part includes several vanes or aerofoils proper n all f pitched at a suitable incline to the axis of the motor and each of these is carried by a skeleton frame-work of suitable design which is open for passage of air therethrough from the vane n to the hub and is suitably secured to the latter; each vane may be reinforced by guy-wires p connecting it with the uprights la or other suitable parts of the hub.

g is the smaller aerofoil. It is fixed to the stub-shaft L and may have the form of an ordinary aeroplane propeller. When the motor is operatingit will be seen that the active and reactive elements thereof (since the larger Iaerofoil is fixed to and rotates with one of them whereas the smaller aerofoil is fixed to and rotates with the other)L rotate the two aerofoils in opposite .directions; the diameter or spread of aerofoil g is such that the air displaced by it findsi ready escape downward through theopen framework of the larger aerofoil.-

The stub-shaft h and the larger aerofoil are connected by planetary gearing, the planet member of which is afforded the necessary purchase for causing from the stub-shaft (that is to say, from the structure of' the motor including the crank case and cylinders) rotary motion to be imparted to the larger aerofoil, thus assisting the opposite elementJ of the motor in the performance of that function, thus: Journaled (as by the ball-bearings 1) on the stub-shaft is.a third aerofoil or other rotary air-resisted element s. In the present case each outer end portion s of this aerofoil is its acting portion or vane and its inner portion is formed as arms s2 (Fig.` 2) or otherwise as a skeleton support affording escape downward of the air displaced by the aerofoil y; which is preferably arranged above aerofoil 8. Aerofoil s has journaled therein bearing spindles t for planet gears u. These gears mesh on the one hand with the sun gear t' fixed to the stubshaft and on the other hand with a ring gear fw fixed to the hub of the larger aerofoil. The consequence of this planetary" gear connection between the larger aerofoil on the one hand and the stubshaft on the other, with the planet gear4 journaled in the aerofoil s and so obtaining a purchase through the latter on the air against which the aerofoil s acts, is that the element of the motor including the stubshaft coacts with the element including shaft e and results in speeding up the aerofoil n, as already stated.

By constructing the helicopter substantially as I have described I have found that it is possible, using a rotary motor of the type set forthfin which the eylinder-including structure and the crank-shaft both revolve, to obtain perfectly adequate lifting power; the rise or fall of the machine and its sustentation are of course simply a matter of varying the speed of the motor and hence of the several aerofoils.

The machine is construced to be dirigible in the following way: There are two steering planes pivoted on alined shafts y so that one plane ison one side and the other on the opposite side of the carriage a, the axis of their movement being horizontal and transverse of the carriage. These planes are acted upon by the current of air forced downward by the aerofoils. If the planes are both swung forward the action of the air thereon will be to tilt the machine so that its forward portion will be the nearer to the ground, and if they are swung backward the machine will be tilted in the opposite direction; thus the machine is adapted for changing its position otherwise than vertically. Movement to thus change its position `may be at any degree of inclination or horizontal by varying the speed of the aerofoils. If one plane be turned forward and the other backward the effect will be to shift the carriage of the machine on 'shaft e as an axis, either in one or the other direction; thus the machine may beheaded toward any point on the horizon. The planes are adapted to be turned together in opposite directions or together in the same direction by a differential gearing connection, shown in Figs. l and 5. Here y are two bevel gears on the adjoining ends of shafts y, and 1,/2 is a bevel gear fixed on an L-shaped handle .1/3 and in mesh with gears y', thehandle being journaled in a bearing member y* forming -a housing for the gears and in which the shafts are revoluble. Then the handle isA turned on t-he axis of gear 12, the planes will be turned in opposite directions; when 1t is turned on the axis 'of the (alined) shaft-s g/ the planes will be turned in the 'same direction.

The vanes of all the aerofoils are of course all pitched so that the leading edgev of each aerofoil is the higher:

(.)ne feature possessing novelty in `machines of this class is the arrangement of a rotary motor for its lifting means so that.

an aerofoil for such means has central support both above and below the motor; this leads to vertical compactness and itavoids undue strain on and possible distortion of the axial portion of the machine, as' shaft ve.

The carburetor 2 for the motor is fixed to the carriage a-b by a bracket 3 and has its delivery pipe 2 extending up into,the

lower tubular end of shaft e. Thecasing Z has a depending central distributing chamber d into which the carbureted mixture is delivered from shaft e through a port c2 therein, to be then fed to the several motor cylinders from the chamber d through suitabie ports (not shown).

'Ihe motor casing'- may carry a commutator ring 4 against which wipes a brush 5 mounted on spider j and connected with the magneto 6', also mounted on said spider, by the lead 7.

l necte'd with the spark-plugs of the several cylinders by suitable wiring (not shown).

The stub-shaft h is tubular and contains a tube l0 which is secured in the upper end of shaft e, forming an upward extension thereof. This tube carries at its upper end an oil receptacle 11 which delivers into a pipe 12 leading to a pump 13 carried by a disk 14 fixed on the tube. The moving element of this pump is actuated by, planetary gearing of which the planet member 15 is j'ournaled in the disk and the sun mem'- ber 1G is fixed on shaft h. The pump delivers into tube 10 through a pipe 17 and through the bore of thetube anda bore 18 in shaft e the oil is fed to the various 'bearings as of the shaft e and its crank.

lhe operators seat 19 1s arranged to slide in a rectilineal path', as on the ioor meml bers a2 of thev carriage; 20 is a foot rest for the operator. He can thus as necessity requires changethe center of gravity of the machine and so assist its tilting forward or v backward for the purposes already explained.

Having thus fully described my inven-.

tion, what I claim is: A

1. In a helicopter, the combination of two each also including an aerofoil driven fronr the corresponding' element and having its axis of rotation upright, gea-ring connecting said elements Vand including an intermediate gear member, a carrier supported by and with 'respect to which each of said means is rotary, and means, movable independently of the carrierand in which sai-d member is journaled, to oppose shifting of said member from one to another position of rotation.

2. In a helicopter, the combinationpof two rotary means respectively including the active and reactive elements of a motor and each also'includingan aerofoil driven from the corresponding,element and having its axis of rotation upright, planetary gearing connecting said elements, a carrier supported by and with respect to which each` of said means is rotary, and means, movable independently of the carrier and in which the planet member of said gearing is jourk naledft'o oppose shifting of said` member from one to another` position of rotation.

3. Ina helicopter, the combination of two rotary means respectively including the active and reactive elements of a motor and each also including an aerofoil driven from the corresponding element and having its axis of rotation ,uprigl1t, gearing connecting said elements and -including an intermediate gear member, a carrier supported by and with respect to which each of said means is rotary, and air-resisted means, movable independently of the carrier and in which said member is journaled, to oppose shifting l of said member from one to another position of rotation.

4. In a helicopter, the combination of two rotary means respectively including the active and reactive elements of a motor and each also including anaerofoil driven from the corresponding element and having its axis of rotation upright, gearing connecting said elements and including an intermediate gear member, a carrier supported by and with respect to which each of said means is rotary, and rotary means, movable independently of the carrier around said axis and in which said member is journaled, to oppose shifting of said member from one to another position of rotation.

5. In a helicopter, the combination of tWo rotary means having their axes upright and ing is journaled opposing the travel thereof the last-named means being a rotary aerofoil having its axis substantially coincident with the first-named axes. y

6. In a helicopter, the combination of a rotary motor having both of the active and reactive elements thereof free to rotate, means to apply the energy of the motor as a lifting force including rotary aerofoils respectively driven each in a given direction from one of said elements, a carrier operatively connected with the motor to be lifted thereby and means to transmit independently of the carrier driving force to one of the aerofoils in its said direction from the relatively opposite motor element.

7. In combination, the casing and piston of a rotary motor, the casing havinga shaft projecting axially therefrom in one direction, a shaftjournaled in the casing and projecting axially therefrom in the other direction and" operatively connected with the piston, and a rotary aerofoil coaxial with the shafts and secured to one and having a bearing on the other of them.

8. In combination, the casing and piston of a rotary motor, the casing havi-ng a shaft projecting axially therefrom in one direction, a shaft journaled in the casing and `projecting axially therefrom in the other direction and operatively connected with the piston, a rotary laerofoil coaxial with the shafts and secured to one and having a bearing on the other of them and another rotary aerofoil secured tothe latter shaft.

9. In combination, with a helicopter including lifting means having a rotary acrofoil Journaled on an upright axis and a carriage swivelled on an upright axis and depending from the lifting means, planes having alined horizontal shafts journaled in the carriage and being each shiftable on a horizontal axis and arranged so as to be acted upon by the current of air caused to move downwardly by the aerofoil, and means to move lthe planes on their axes simultaneously in opposite directions or both in the same direction including a bearing member in which both shafts are revoluble, a handle device journaled in the bearing member and revoluble therein independently of each shaft, and gearing connecting the handle device and each shaft.

10. In a helicopter, the combination of two rotary structures, one revoluble relatively to the other on a vertical axis and including one element of a rotary motor and an aerofoil and the other including the other motor element, a carriage suspended from one of said structures, and means to lubricate the motor including a lubricant reservoir and a pump carried by one of said structures and means in said structure to conduct llubricant from the pump tothe motor and` gearing connecting'the moving element of the pump'with the other structure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE EXEL. 

